Belter bed soars to $201,250 at Hal Hunt's Feb. 21 saleA rare and magnificent pierce-carved laminated rosewood bed, crafted by J.H. Belter and one of only two known, soared to $201,250 at an auction held Feb. 21 by Hal Hunt Auctions in Northport, Alabama.

News-Antique.com - Mar 09,2009 - (Northport, Ala.) – An exceedingly rare and magnificent pierce-carved laminated rosewood bed, beautifully crafted by John Henry Belter (circa 1850s) and one of only two known, soared to $201,250 at a multi-estate sale held Feb. 21 by Hal Hunt Auctions. The bed was the top earner of the 437 lots that crossed the block in an auction Hal Hunt described as “an advanced sale for the advanced collector.”

The Belter bed was stamped (or embossed) in six places, with a patent date. It was pictured in the book, American Furniture of the 19th Century, 1840s-1880s. The only other known example is in The Brooklyn Museum. Overall, the sale was wildly successful, despite a generally poor economy.”There were some great bargains that might have brought stronger prices in better times,” Mr. Hunt said, “but serious buyers paid top dollar for the high-quality merchandise.”

Mr. Hunt said for the sale to be as successful as it was – around 350 people in attendance, in the dead of winter, in a sour financial climate – suggests that people are choosing to put their money into hard assets, like true antiques, instead of stocks and bonds. “The nice thing about quality antiques is, you can actually enjoy them while you own them,” he added, “and they almost always appreciate in value.”

Following are other highlights from the sale. All prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Also from J.H. Belter: a rosewood laminated tall crest sofa in the Tuthill King pattern went for $34,500; a rosewood laminated recamier with fountain elms hammered for $29,900; a rosewood étagère in the Rosalie pattern (84 inches high by 60 inches wide) crossed the block at $27,025; and a rosewood cabinet base étagère (tall, at 93 inches high by 51 inches wide) went to a determined bidder for $20,125.